Connector for multi-contact relays and the like



Dec. 19, 1967 R. J. BARRY v CONNECTOR FOR MULTI-CONTACT RELYS AND THE LIKE Filed April e, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet l lxmww x @M\\\N\N V @um INVENTOR.

ROBERT J BARRY www,

ATTORNEY Dec. 19, 1967 f RJ. BARRY 3,359,533

CONNECTOR FOR MULTI-CONTACT RELAYS AND THE LKE Filed April s, 196e 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIGB /28 FIGS INVENTOR.

ROBERT J` BARRY ATTORNEY 3,359,533 CONNECTOR FOR MULTI-CONTACT RELAYS AND THE LIKE Robert J. Barry, Cedar Grove, NJ., assignor to Federal Tool Engineering Co., Cedar Grove, NJ., a corporation of New Jersey Filed Apr. 8, 1966, Ser. No. 541,151 2 Claims. (Cl. 339-217) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A connector for multi-contact relays including a dielectric body portion having internal passages formed therein for receiving a plurality of connector tangs which are readily snapped into interlocking relationship within the passages and are individually replaceable when required; each of the connector tangs being formed with -a sinusoidal slot for exerting a constant concentrated pressure on normally straight spring contact elements of a relay or the like.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a connector which will exert a constant concentrated pressure on normally straightspring contact elements of a relay or the like when the latter are introduced into sinusoidal slotsof the connector assembly.

Another object is to provide a connector of the abovementioned lcharacter which produces concentrated pressure on spring contacts at a of the contacts.

Another object of the invention is to provide a connector assembly which is constructed to withstand the pressure of a Acommercial wire applicator without dislodging the tangs of the connector.

Still another object is to provide a connector which includes a molded block body portion having internal passages to receive a number of connector tangs in mechanically interlocked relation with shoulders formed in said passages, the arrangement allowing blocks and tangs to be assembled rapidly and with accuracy and uniformity.

Another object is to provide a connector structure whose permanence of contact pressure is not dependent on a molding procedure or block. A

Still another object is to provide a connector having tangs which may be readily snapped into retained interlocking relation with the block and which are individually replaceable when required.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent during the course of the following detailed description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application and in Vwhich like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

FIGURE l is an exploded perspective view of the connector assembly embodying the invention and showing the same associated with multiple contacts or springs of a relay;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged longitudinal vertical section through the connector structure while the latter is coupled to the relay contacts or springs;

FIGURE 3 is a longitudinal vertical section through a partially assembled connector structure and illustrating the interlocking of connector tangs within shouldered slots of the connector body;

FIGURE 4 is an end elevation of the connector block shown in FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a horizontal transverse section taken on line 5-5 of FIGURE 3; and

plurality of points along the lengths v y United States Patent O 3,359,533 Patented Dec. 19, 1967 FIGURE 6 is a vertical section taken on line 6 5 of FIGURE 5.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illust-ration is shown a preferred embodiment of the invention, the numeral I() designates a one-piece molded connector body or block formed of nylon or some similar material and adapted to be produced by straight line molding techniques. As shown, the block iti is generally rectangular and cellular, having amain transverse divider wall 11 and an intersecting divider wall 12 relatively near one end of the block 10, FIGURE 6. The opposite side walls 13 of the block together with the divider walls 11 and 12 form within the block a plurality of identical forwardly opening chambers 14 which receive the slotted forward portions of connector tangs, yet to be described, and also receive the spring contact elements of a relay or the like which it is desired to connect electrically with a particular instrumentality by means of the invention.

On the rear side of the divider wall 12, a corresponding number of relatively short rearwardly opening rectangular chambers 15 are likewise provided when the block 10 is molded. As best shown in FIGURES l and 4, the chambers 14 and 15 are arranged in two primary rows extending along the wider sides of the block and with the rows staggered or offset longitudinally by a distance approximately equal to one-half of the width of one chamber 14.

Each forward chamber 14 is provided along opposite side walls thereof with opposed longitudinal ribs 16 eX- tending forwardly from the divider wall 12 and terminating somewhat rearwardly of the forward end of the block so as to form laterally opposed shoulders 17, for a purpose to be described. Each opposed pair of ribs 16 is provided at the transvers centers thereof with opposed longitudinal shallow grooves 18, extending for the entire lengths of the ribs. Each pair of grooves 18 leads into a cross slot 19 formed through the divider wall 12 and being of the same width as the groove 18. The slots 19 lead to the rearward cavities or chambers 15 of the block.

The connector assembly, which includes the molded block 1@ above-described, also comprises a plurality of metal tangs 20 numbering ten in the embodiment shown in the drawings so as to correspond to the number of chambers in the block Iii. It should be: understood that the number of chambers 14- and 15 and the number of tangs 2t) may be varied within the scope and spirit of the invention.

Each metal tang 2i) consists of a relatively thin flat plate-like body portion having a rear terminal end section 21 of considerable length. The terminal section 21 may, if desired, be twisted during manufacturing so as to be disposed perpendicular or at any specified angle to the principal plane in which the remainder of the tang lies. This is an optional feature and for simplicity the tangs 20 are shown flat and untwisted. Intermediate their ends, the tangs have laterally aligned and longitudinally spaced pairs of projections 22 and 23. These projections aid in positively positioning the tangs in assembled relationship with the block 1i), and the space 24 between the pairs 22 and 23 of projections receives several turns 25 of terminal wires 26 which are applied to the tangs in a conventional manner prior to their entry into the chambers of the block 10. As shown in FIGURE 2, the wire turns 25 are retained in assembly between the pairs of projections 22 and 23 and between the intermediate body portion of the tang and the surrounding block chamber 15. This makes a very compact and neat arrangement for wiring, with the wire substantially concealed in the chamber 15, and virtually eliminates the possibility of short-circuiting with the next adjacent tang or wire. Wires may be attached to the tangs 20 in other acceptable ways and the arrangement illusu) trated in FIGURE 2 is simply illustrative of a preferred manner of attaching the wires to the tangs.

Forwardly of the projections 23, each tang 20 further comprises an elongated connector section 27 which is divided or bifurcated by a generally longitudinal sinusoidal slot 2S, also properly termed a wavy slot. The sinusoidal slot opens through the forward extremity of the tang and this extremity is formed by an additional pair of laterally aligned projections 29 which are rounded on their leading sides to facilitate the entry of relay spring contacts into the sinusoidal slots 23. It will be observed, particularly in connection with FIGURE 2, that each slot 28 affords three distinct Contact areas or areas of heavy pressure engagement between the tangs and sprin g contacts of a relay or the like. In this connection, FIGURES 1 and 2 illustrate initially flat spring contacts or prongs 30 of a relay structure, said spring contacts adapted to enter the connector chambers 14 and engage within the sinusoidal slots 28 as shown in FIGURE 2.

A unique feature of the invention resides in the mode of assembly of the slotted tangs Ztl with the molded block so that individual tangs are easily replaceable without disturbing the remainder of the assembly and all of the tangs are positively interlocked mechanically with the block in an accurate and uniform manner. With continued reference to the drawings in general and FIGURES 3 and 6 in particular, the forward connector sections 27 of the tangs are adapted to enter the rear chambers and by applying a small degree of axial pressure to each tang 2t), FIGURE 3, its forward rounded projections 29 will coact with the shoulders 31 at the forward ends of the chambers 15. This coaction will cause a closing of the slot 28 and a temporary yielding of the bifurcated forward section 27, as depicted in FIGURE 3, and the forward end of the tang may now enter and pass through the slot 19 and the projections Z9 will also enter and slide through the opposed grooves 18 as the tang moves forwardly toward its final assembled position within the block. Upon reaching the forward ends of the ribs 16, the projections 29 will leave the grooves 18 and the sinusoidal slot 28 will again open to its normal width and the rear sides of the lateral projections 29 will immediately snap into interlocked relation with the forward shoulders 17 of the molded block, due to the resiliency of the divided forward section 27 of the tang. Simultaneously, the projections 23 on the tang will engage the shoulders 31 and the tang is effectively interlocked with the molded block and cannot move longitudinally or axially any appreciable extent relative to the block. At this time, the rearward projections 22 and the wire coils 25 are also within the rear chambers 15. The opposite longitudinal edges of the bifurcated tang sections 27 are also positively engaged within the grooves 18 so that the assembled tang cannot turn within its socket or chamber in the block. The slots 19 also prevent such turning. Despite the very positive interlocking between the metal tangs and the molded block, these elements are not bonded together and individual tangs are readily removable when necessary.

It may now be noted in connection with the completely assembled connector including block 1G and all of the tangs 20 that the terminal projections 29 at the leading ends of the tangs are spaced inwardly of the open ends of the chambers 14 and therefore protected. Likewise, the projections 22 and 23 and the wire wrapping spaces 24 of the tangs are bodily within the chambers 1S of the block and protected.

In making the electrical connection with the relay or like device, the at relay spring contacts 30 are forced directly into the sinusoidal slots 28 of the tangs 20 within the block 10. The contacts 30, being resilient, are slightly deformed in assembly, FIGURE 2, and they may bottom within the slots 23, as shown. This connection provides a constant and uniform heavy Contact pressure which is concentrated at three points along each contact 30 and slot 28 due to the shape of the slot. This high concentration of contact area and pressure is very desirable in connection with the particular equipment with which the invention is intended to be used. Furthermore, the construction is extremely durable and sturdy and the parts can be separated, when required. The connector is capable of a variety of applications which will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

It is to be understood that the form of the invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit of the invention or scope of the subjoined claims.

lI claim:

1. A connector for multi-contact relays and the like comprising a dielectric block-like body portion, a plurality of separated through passages formed in said body portion, each passage having raised ribs extending along one pair of opposed side walls thereof throughout a substantial portion of the length of the passage, said r-ibs terminating somewhat inwardly of the ends of the passage and the ends of the body portion, said ribs having relatively narrow longitudinal grooves formed therein, the opposite ends of the ribs constituting laterally opposed shoulders, and a at, plate-like, metallic connector tang longitudinally insertable within each of said passages, each connector tang having a leading, resilient, bifurcated connector section formed by a sinusoidal slot extending therethrough, a pair of lateral projections formed on the leading ends of the bifurcated connector section for interlocking engagement with said laterally opposed shoulders formed by one end of said ribs, said lateral projections having rounded leading edges forming a tapered mouth communicating with said sinusoidal slot to thereby facilitate the insertion of the tang into said passage and the entry of a spring contact into the sinusoidal slot of the tang, a second pair of lateral projections formed on the tang for interlocking engagement with said laterally opposed shoulders formed by the opposite ends of said ribs, said grooves receiving the longitudinal edge portions of the tang between the two pairs of lateral projections to thereby prevent lateral displacement and turning of the tang about its longitudinal axis when the tang is assembled in the passage.

2. The invention as defined by claim 1, wherein a third pair of lateral projections are formed on each tang and spaced longitudinally from said second pair of lateral projections to thereby define a wire attaching portion therebetween, said wire attaching portion being disposed within the body portion whereby the wire attaching portion is protected.

, References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,563,762 8/1951 Uline et al 339-60 3,026,496 3/1962 Gluck 339-217 3,031,640 4/1962 McKee 339-154 3,072,340 1/1963 Dean 339--176 3,212,052 10/1965 Johanson 339-217 3,239,791 3/1966 Fyrk 339-63 3,286,220 11/1966 Marley et al 339--276 FOREIGN PATENTS 163,698 8/1922 Great BritainY 990,416 4/ 1965 Great Britain.

MARVIN A. CHAMPION, Primary Examiner.

RAYMOND S, STRQBEL, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A CONNECTOR FOR MULTI-CONTACT RELAYS AND THE LIKE COMPRISING A DIELECTRIC BLOCK-LIKE BODY PORTION, A PLURALITY OF SEPARATED THROUGH PASSAGES FORMED IN SAID BODY PORTION, EACH PASSAGE HAVING RAISED RIBS EXTENDING ALONG ONE PAIR OF OPPOSED SIDE WALLS THEREOF THROUGHOUT A SUBSTANTIAL PORTION OF THE LENGTH OF THE PASSAGE, SAID RIBS TERMINATING SOMEWHAT INWARDLY OF THE ENDS OF THE PASSAGE AND THE ENDS OF THE BODY PORTION, SAID RIBS HAVING RELATIVELY NARROW LONGITUDINAL GROOVES FORMED THEREIN, THE OPPOSITE ENDS OF THE RIBS CONSTITUTING LATERALLY OPPOSED SHOULDERS, AND A FLAT, PLATE-LIKE, METALLIC CONNECTOR TANG LONGITUDINALLY INSERTABLE WITHIN EACH OF SAID PASSAGES, EACH CONNECTOR TANG HAVING A LEADING, RESILIENT, BIFURCATED CONNECTOR SECTION FORMED BY A SINUSOIDAL SLOT EXTENDING THERETHROUGH, A PAIR OF LATERAL PROJECTIONS FORMED ON THE LEADING ENDS OF THE BIFURCATED CONNECTOR SECTION FOR INTER- 